the joy of teaching

[shootrmn]

For the last couple weeks I have been spending 2 or 3 hours each morning helping with an archery class at a local project school for at risk kids. I help the phys ed instructor with the class by demonstrating and coaching form and aiming techniques. In the short time I have been participating the kids have come a along way my shooting has improved and best of all several have ask about going to a 3d range. I am working to get that outing put together for them. I have gotten so much enjoyment from doing this I almost think I haven't given enough. Tomarrow we are going to shoot my favorite target balloons. I am bringing the balloons. I would encourage any one that can participate in this type on thing locally to do so it is more fun than you can imagine.

[whitebuffalo]

Just awsome,,Your a good souled person,, God bless you and yours.

[Pete Darby]

Sounds great and I can well beleive that your shooting has improved.  Nothing forces you to look at what you are doing as teaching someone else, especially a lot of someone elses.  We use to have a saying at my dojo that you don't really know martial arts until you teach martial arts.  I do a lot of teaching and it is so enjoyable that I sometimes don't pull my bow as much as I had planned that evening.

[George Tsoukalas]

That is really neat, shootrmn. You are a good person. Jawge

[vermonster13]

That's what it's all about! Great work.

[Roadkill]

traxx and I go an an archery shop almost every weekend-one to help the owner by cleaning the place as he can't afford help, and then we get to teach trad archery to kids whose parents are buying wheel bows. I agree-this is not only personally rewarding, but it does improve one's own ability.  Any chance we have to gather in youngsters, we should do so.

[AnointedArcher]

Great Job Bro, keep up the good work!          

[Izzy]

Good stuff, keep it up.Enjoy the reward.

[Shell]

Ditto's on what everyone said, wonderful to teach these youth in these situations....wish the neighborhoods I grew up in had folks like you that were willing to offer their time like you are unselfishly doing...

many that do now since this sport has gained popularity in the last few years, probably due to sites as this one    

[Dave Worden]

Ain't it fun?!!!  I teach kids on Wednesday evenings, adults Thursday morings, and kids, adults/families on Saturday mornings all winter.  Some of the kids are so small their arrows/quivers drag on the floor and they can barely reach to the top of the bow to get into the "ready" stance.  The smiles when they go from barely hitting the wall to bull's eyes is the greatest reward you can get.  Learning to shoot has also greatly improved the self esteem of some kids that really needed it.  Like Clint says, if you can find the time, get involved.  You gain much more than the cost.  As for improving your own shooting, if you have to give a demonstration you'll definitely want to shoot well.  Demonstrations are a GREAT motivator to practice.